The subject of family has been kind of up front for a few reasons this week.

First, as background, I have three siblings, shown here with my father in 1999.

We grew up in the turbulent 60’s and the chemically corrupt 70’s yet we all managed to be fairly normal, and I think part of the reason why is my extended family. On my Dad’s side, I have 10 uncles, 2 aunts, 30 something cousins and God only knows how many others. Family reunions take on the flavor of a convention. Every year as we grew up, on holidays we trooped to grandma’s and had a ball. The most striking thing in my memories was the amount of pure fun these people all had, and I am here to testify, it was fun indeed. The games, the good natured joking and the general love was inspirational, and I believe, in retrospect, it was also responsible for a lot of my attitudes about relationships and family in general. The most recent gathering was my cousin Kris’s wedding in Seattle, where 7 of the aunts and uncles as well as a handful of cousins all gathered to send Kris off in style. The brides section was definitely well represented.